Solar Shading For Low Energy Buildings

Solar shading for low
energy buildings
FEBRUARY 2012
Edition 1
How shutters and blinds reduce the energy needs of buildings and improve
their thermal and visual comfort
Solar shading for low energy buildings
MEMBERS OF THE ES-SO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
Chairman : Herv LAMY (SNFPSA)
Ralf BAUR (ITRS)

Richard BEUHORRY (SNFPSA)
David BUSH (BBSA)
Jean-Paul CLEMENT (SNFPSA)
Alberto DANIELI (ASSITES)
Yvon DEBIEZ (SNFPSA)
Gonzague DUTOO (SNFPSA)
Pascal NORDE (SNFPSA)
Gabriele TRSCHER (ITRS)
Copyright ES-SO, 2012

Request for permission to make copies of any part of this guidebook should be addressed to:
ES-SO vzw
Naessenslaan 9
B-1860 Meise, Belgium
Email: info@es-so.com
Cover page credits: Somfy, Warema, Mermet, Ferrari
Page 1
FOREWORD
This book is about solar shading, its influence on the energy balance and energy consumption of a
building. As buildings account for almost 40% of total primary energy use in Europe, pressure has
grown to make them more energy-efficient. The savings potential is huge: it is not rare today to have
buildings that consume more than 250 kWh/ma, whereas state-of-the-art technology in modern
buildings shows figures well below 100 kWh/ma. Several countries are working on legislation limiting
maximum energy use to 50 kWh/ma by the year 2015 or shortly after that. At the same time, Passive
and Active house technology is gaining market share and the European Parliament has said that it
would like all new buildings to be near zero energy from 2019 onwards.
Solar shading is a term we use to cover all the techniques to limit the entry of excessive solar energy,
ranging from shade trees over fixed awnings to fully automated blinds and shutters. Outdoor weather
conditions light and heat change constantly in the course of one day. Thats why, in the context of
this book, there is some emphasis on automated solar shading systems (blinds, awnings, shutters, etc) so
that optimum effect can be obtained.
Controlling the entry of solar heat and light will have a considerable effect on the energy needs of a
building, as we will demonstrate. However, solar shading is but one element of the buildings envelope,
along with glazing, window frames, walls, roofs and floors. To expect automated solar shading to help
reduce energy consumption, the selection of the best system must be made in the early design stage of
the building process. Many factors must be taken into account, from the outdoor climate to the
immediate environment, the buildings orientation and the users profile and many others. Building
physics will show how each of these factors have their effect. Building simulation software may
quantify these effects. As architects will be moving towards nearly zero-energy buildings, the
increased layers of thermal insulation can easily provoke overheating in summer conditions. Dynamic
shading will then become an essential element in the buildings concept.
Solar shading installations must be installed by professionals; experience shows that in the installation
stage, mistakes must be prevented to secure the expected results. Sometimes, external shading systems
are considered like the bricks and concrete of the buildings skin: you just dont look after them. But
systems with moving parts need to be taken care of.
These and other aspects will be discussed in this book. We hope youll find it of interest.
Peter Winters
President
ES-SO, the European Solar-Shading Organization
www.es-so.com
Page 2
Page 3
CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................5
II. BASIC PRINCIPLES....................................................................................................6

II.1.
Different types of radiation ............................................................................................. 6
II.2.
Solar radiation .................................................................................................................... 6
II.3.
Influence of the position of the sun .................................................................................. 7
II.4. The long wave infrared ........................................................................................................ 8
II.5.
How a material is affected by radiation ....................................................................... 9
III. THE THERMAL AND VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLINDS AND SHUTTERS ....11
III.1. Thermal transmittance (U value) .................................................................................... 11
III.2. Total solar energy transmittance gtot (solar factor) .................................................... 13
III.2.1. General ......................................................................................................................... 13
III.2.2. Simplified calculation method: EN 13363-1 .......................................................... 13
III.2.3. Detailed calculation method: EN 13363-2 ............................................................ 15
III.3. Light transmittance v ....................................................................................................... 18
III.3.1. General ......................................................................................................................... 18
III.3.2. Simplified calculation method: EN 13363-1 .......................................................... 18
III.3.3. Detailed calculation method: EN 13363-2 ............................................................ 19
III.4. Comparison of the simplified and detailed calculations ........................................... 20
IV. HOW BLINDS AND SHUTTERS REDUCE THE ENERGY NEEDS OF A BUILDING ....23
IV.1. Textinergie tool ............................................................................................................ 23
IV.1.1. What is Textinergie? ................................................................................................. 23
IV.1.2. Impact of the location................................................................................................. 23
IV.1.3. Impact of the orientation ........................................................................................... 24
IV.2. ES-SO and REHVA guidebook........................................................................................ 25
IV.2.1. Stockholm ...................................................................................................................... 25
IV.2.2. Madrid .......................................................................................................................... 27
V. HOW BLINDS AND SHUTTERS IMPROVE THE VISUAL AND THERMAL COMFORT OF A
BUILDING ......................................................................................................................29
V.1. Impact of shutters on summer comfort ............................................................................. 29
V.2. Impact of solar shading on visual comfort ...................................................................... 30
Page 4
I.
INTRODUCTION
Solar shading is a key element for improving the energy efficiency and daylight management of
existing buildings and optimising the low-energy designs of new buildings. This technology is still underutilised although it provides a major impact on the reduction of energy consumption of the built
environment whilst improving the thermal and visual comfort of the occupants.
Indeed, solar protection devices enable adjustment of the properties of windows and faades to the
weather conditions and the need of the occupants. A proper management of these systems can then
maximise the solar heat gains in winter hence reducing the heating loads and minimise these heat
gains in summer hence reducing the cooling loads, while at the same time providing good visual
comfort to the occupants.
In order to make the right choice in term of products and faade management when designing a new
building or preparing works to an existing one, it is necessary to take into consideration the
characteristics of solar protection devices. Indeed, these products impact the insulation level of the
faade, its solar transmittance and its visual transmittance. As a consequence, it is necessary to find the
best balance between all these characteristics depending on the building properties, its location and
orientation.
This technical guidebook is intended to give the basic knowledge to understand how solar shading
characteristics are evaluated and what are the physical properties involved in the transmission of the
solar radiation. It is mainly based on calculation methods provided by European standards.
Examples of simulations carried out in Europe showing the impact of solar shading on the energy loads
of buildings are also presented.
Although it is mainly intended to be used by solar shading manufacturers and installers, this guidebook
will also be useful to building designers and energy engineers.
Page 5
II.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
This chapter shows some basic elements of the different types of radiation that have to be considered
in the performance of solar protection devices and the position of the sun. It also shows how a material
behaves when it is affected by such radiation.
II.1. Different types of radiation

People are exposed to a large variety of radiation that could be natural or artificial. Radiation has
differing wavelengths (see Figure 1).
FIGURE 1 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIOUS ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION DEPENDING OF THEIR WAVELENGTH
A solar protection device is concerned with these two types of radiation:
The solar radiation with wavelength between 280 nm to 2500 nm that is subdivided into three
parts: UV, visible and short wave infrared. This radiation is emitted by the sun (see II.2).
The long wave infrared with wavelength between 2500 nm to 10000 nm that is due to the
temperature level of a material (e.g. a heater or any warm surface). This radiation is in the
infrared which is in the invisible range (see II.4).
II.2. Solar radiation

The sun produces an enormous amount of energy (66 million W/m) that is transmitted to the Earth
through radiation. Only a fraction of this energy reaches the atmosphere (around 1300 W/m).
Around 15% of this radiation is then absorbed by the atmosphere and emitted in all directions in the
form of diffuse radiation. Around 6% is reflected back into the space. The remaining part (79%) is
directly transmitted to the ground through the atmosphere.
As a consequence, the energy of solar radiation hitting the ground is much lower than at the limit of the
atmosphere. It is generally considered that the energy reaching the ground when there is a clear blue
sky is around 1000 W/m.
Hence, when considering a solar protection device, it is necessary to divide the global incident
radiation into three parts (see Figure 2).
Page 6
Direct radiation, which is the solar

radiation neither absorbed nor reflected
by the atmosphere,
Diffuse radiation, which is the part of the
solar radiation absorbed by the
atmosphere and emitted in all directions,
Reflected radiation which corresponds to
the reflection of the direct and diffuse
radiation on the ground.
FIGURE 2 INCIDENT PARTS OF THE SOLAR RADIATION
This radiation is grouped into three main sections which form the Solar Spectrum:
Ultraviolet (UV): from 250 nm to 380 nm,
these rays are invisible to the human eye
and may be dangerous in case of
overexposure. They age materials and
damage surfaces and colours.
Visible: from 380 nm (violet) to 780 nm
(red), these rays are detected by the
human retina and enable the sight of
shapes, relief and colours.
Short wave Infrared (IR): from 780 nm to
2500 nm, these rays are invisible but are
felt as heat.
FIGURE 3 SPECTRAL IRRADIANCE AT THE SEA LEVEL FOR THE SOLAR

SPECTRUM
The power of a radiation is represented by its irradiance (in W/m). For a given wavelength, it is
called spectral irradiance (in W/m.nm). Figure 3 gives the distribution of the spectral irradiance of
the solar spectrum at the sea level.
II.3. Influence of the position of the sun

In addition, the solar irradiance depends on the
position of the sun in the sky (altitude and
azimuth). This position varies throughout the year
and during the day (see Figure 4). It also
depends on the latitude.
Figure 5 shows the solar irradiance on vertical
surfaces in summer (21 June) and in winter
(21December). As these graphs have been
calculated with a cloudless sky and without
consideration of the surrounding buildings, the
level indicated can be considered the maximum
solar irradiance a vertical surface can receive.
Page 7
FIGURE 4 POSITION OF THE SUN IN THE SKY
These figures are for a latitude of 50 N. At other latitudes, these figures will be different. However, in
Europe, the general pattern is the same.
1000
800
800
600
600
400
200
0
10
12
16
14
18
20
10
12
14
1000
21 jun
21 dec
South Facade
800
800
600
600
400
200
16
18
20
18
20
21 jun
21 dec
West Facade
W/m
W/m
400
200
1000
21 jun
21 dec
East Facade
W/m
W/m
1000
21 jun
21 dec
North Facade
400
200
10
12
14
16
18
20
10
12
14
16
FIGURE 5 IRRADIANCE FOR NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH VERTICAL SURFACE AT 50 N OF LATITUDE (SOURCE ES-SO & REHVA
GUIDEBOOK)
It can be seen that:
North exposed faades, receive the lowest level of solar irradiance. Only a small amount of
solar radiation hits the vertical surface at the beginning of the morning and late in the evening
in summer.
East and west orientated faades show a symmetric pattern: the east surface will receive the
largest part of the radiation before noon, whereas the west surface receives it in the
afternoon. It can be seen that the irradiance is at a maximum when it is composed of the direct
part of the radiation. After noon for the east faade and before noon for the west faade, the
radiation is mainly composed of the diffuse part coming from the sky. That is the reason why it
is lower.
South exposed faades receive solar radiation almost throughout the day. That is why it is
essential to maximize the glazed surfaces on this orientation to optimize the solar gain that
could enter the building in winter and to protect the faades in summer to avoid overheating.
Because of the low altitude of the sun, it can be seen that the irradiance is higher in winter than
in summer. It is here also important to ensure glare protection of the building users.
II.4. The long wave infrared

All materials continuously emit radiation in the form of energy in all directions. While the solar
spectrum comprises short wavelength radiation emitted at various temperatures, the thermal radiation
is mainly composed of long wavelength infrared radiation emitted at low temperature.
In practice, this means that a material which is irradiated by solar radiation will warm up and emit
long wavelength radiation to the surrounding area. This radiation will then warm up the materials in
the vicinity which will once again emit radiation, and so on.
Page 8
A heater is a perfect example of a material which emits long wave infrared radiation. Any material
warmed up by solar radiation becomes a kind of a heater.
The capacity of a material to emit this type of radiation is given by its emissivity (see II.5). As long as
a material has no openings, it is opaque to the long wave infrared. Therefore walls and glazing do not
allow the transmission of this type of radiation. Therefore, heat is kept in the room. This is known as the
greenhouse effect.
II.5. How a material is affected by radiation

When it irradiates a surface (glazing, fabric or slat for example), incident radiation splits into three
parts (see Figure 6):
A part which is transmitted through the

material. It is characterised by the
transmittance , the ratio of the
transmitted flux to the incident flux
A part which is reflected by the material.
It is characterised by the reflectance ,
the ratio of the reflected flux to the
incident flux
A part which is absorbed by the material
which is characterised by the absorptance
so that + + = 100%
FIGURE 6 BEHAVIOUR OF A RADIATION IN CONTACT WITH A

MATERIAL
For a given incident radiation E, the transmitted radiation is equal to x E, the absorbed radiation to
x E and the reflected radiation to x E.
Transmittance, reflectance and absorptance are characteristics specific to the material. With a fabric
for example, these values will mainly depend on the type of material, on the openness of the fabric
and the colour.
It also depends on the wavelength of the solar radiation. It is possible to measure these properties for
specific wavelength (for example for 250, 260, 270, etc.). These values are called spectral data.
However, they are often defined for:
The complete solar spectrum, i.e. from 250 nm to 2500 nm (see Figure 3). These properties are
identified by the subscript e (for energetic or solar) : e, e and e,
The visible part of the spectrum, i.e. from 380 nm to 780 nm. In this case these characteristics
are used to calculate the visual properties of the product (mainly the light transmittance) and
they are identified by the subscript v (for visible) : v, v and v,
The long wave infrared radiation, i.e. from 2500 nm to 10000 nm. These values are necessary
for the detailed calculation of some of the thermal characteristics of the products. They are
identified by the subscript IR: IR, IR and the emissivity (in this case the emissivity is equal to
IR).
In this case, they are called integrated data.
Page 9
NOTE
In all cases, the relationship between transmittance, absorptance and reflectance is governed
by the following generic formula:
1 = e + e + e for the complete solar spectrum
1 = v + v + v for the visible part of the solar spectrum
1 = IR + IR + for the long wavelength infrared radiation
In practice, only two values are needed to characterise a material (e.g. e and e or IR and ).
In addition, it should be noted that a radiation is

transmitted in two ways. The transmittance
comprises:
Direct transmittance, stated as n-n, for which

the radiation is not affected by the material,
and
Diffuse transmittance, noted n-dif, which
corresponds to the diffusion in all directions of
the radiation by the material (see Figure 7).
FIGURE 7 DIRECT AND DIFFUSE VISUAL TRANSMITTANCE
The sum of the direct and diffuse transmitted part is equal to the total value: e.g. v,n-n + v,n-dif = v
Finally, reflectance and absorptance may also depend on the product sides, for example in case of
coating or colour difference. Two values may then be necessary: and for example corresponding
to the two faces of a fabric.
Figure 8 illustrates the characteristics of the shutter or blind material (fabric, slat or lath) required for
a detailed calculation of the thermal and visual properties of the product. This figure does not
consider the characteristics of the glazing which are also needed. This part is detailed in III.2 and III.3.
FIGURE 8 ILLUSTRATION OF THE MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS
These characteristics are measured in accordance with the European Standard EN 14500 Blinds and
shutters - Thermal and visual comfort - Test and calculation methods.
Page 10
III. THE THERMAL AND VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLINDS AND

SHUTTERS
The previous chapter presented the properties of the solar radiation and the way this radiation is
modified by the material of the shutter or blind. This chapter will identify how the visual and thermal
characteristics of solar shading products are determined.
III.1. Thermal transmittance (U value)

The U value (designated by Uw) represents the thermal losses
going through a window. For a single window (with a blind or
a shutter in the retracted position), this coefficient depends
on the U value of the glazing (Ug) and the frame (Uf) and the
link between the glazing and the frame (g).
It is calculated according to the European Standard EN ISO
10077-1 with the following formula:
=
+ +
+
The lower the Uw value the better the insulation of the

window. A U value is given in W/m.K.
FIGURE 9 ILLUSTRATION OF THE UW VALUE
A solar protection device extended in front of a window introduces an additional air space
characterised by an additional thermal resistance designated by R (in m.K/W). The R value is
calculated according to the European Standard EN 13125 and depends mainly on the air
permeability of the device and the thermal resistance of the curtain (designated by Rsh).
According to EN 13125, the air permeability of a shutter or a blind is calculated considering the
peripheral gaps of the curtain (see Figure 10).
FIGURE 10 CALCULATION OF ETOT ACCORDING TO EN 13125
For external and internal blinds, EN 13125 also considers openings that may be present in the curtain
(the openness factor of a fabric for example). The air permeability criteria is then expressed by the
following formula:
Pe = etot + 10p
where etot is calculated according to Figure 10 and p is the ratio between the total opening area and
the total area of the curtain.
Page 11
The following tables give the formulae determined in EN 13125 for the calculation of the R value for
shutters, external blinds and internal and mid-pane blinds.
TABLE 1 CALCULATION OF R OF SHUTTERS
Very high air permeability (etot > 35 mm)
R = 0,08 m.K/W
High air permeability (15 mm < etot 35 mm)
R = 0,25.Rsh + 0,09
Average air permeability (8 mm < etot 15 mm)
R = 0,55.Rsh + 0,11
Low air permeability (etot 8 mm)
R = 0,8.Rsh + 0,14
Very low air permeability (etot 3 mm and e1+ e3=0 or e2+

e3=0 )
R = 0,95.Rsh + 0,17
TABLE 2 - CALCULATION OF R OF EXTERNAL BLINDS
High and very high air permeability (Pe 35 mm)
R = 0,08 m.K/W
Average air permeability (8 mm Pe < 35 mm)
R = 0,11 m.K/W
Low air permeability (Pe < 8 mm)
R = 0,14 m.K/W
TABLE 3 - CALCULATION OF R OF INTERNAL AND MID-PANE BLINDS
High and very high air permeability (Pe 80 mm)
R = 0,08 m.K/W
Average air permeability (20 mm Pe < 80 mm)
R = 0,11 m.K/W
Low air permeability (Pe < 20 mm)
R = 0,14 m.K/W
The effect of the additional thermal resistance of a shutter or a blind on the window is given by the
following formula:
=
1
+
This formula is defined in the standard EN ISO 10077-1. For a given window, it can be used to
evaluate the improvement of the U value of a window provided by a blind or the shutter in the
extended position. Table 4 gives examples of calculations for three different R values and three
different types of windows. The R values considered are:
0,08 m.K/W, for example a very permeable external blind,

0,15 m.K/W, for example a standard roller shutter in aluminum,
0,25 m.K/W, for example a air tight roller shutter.
Page 12

TABLE 4 EXAMPLE OF UWS CALCULATION
Window with single glazing
Window with double glazing
Window with double glazing
Uw = 4,90
Uw = 1,8
Uw = 1,2
R (m.K/W)
R (m.K/W)
R (m.K/W)
0,08
0,15
0,25
0,08
0,15
0,25
0,08
0,15
0,25
Uws (W/m.K)
3,52
2,82
2,20
1,57
1,42
1,24
1,09
1,02
0,92
Improvement factor
28,2%
42,4%
55,1%
12,6%
21,3%
31,0%
8,8%
15,2%
23,0 %
It can be seen from these examples that in all cases, the shutter or the blind decreases the U value of
the window (Uws < Uw) and therefore reduces the heat losses when the outdoor temperature is cold.
Of course the effect of the shutter or blind is higher when the window has a low performance: it halves
the U value in case of a single glazing. However, it still has a good effect for a high performance
window: an airtight shutter will still reduce the U value of a double glazing window with a Uw value of
1,2 W/m.K (which means a window using a glazing with a Ug = 1,0 W/m.K) by 23%.
III.2. Total solar energy transmittance g t o t (solar factor)

III.2.1. General
The total solar energy transmittance, also called solar factor, represents the part of the incident flux
which is transmitted into a room.
g is the solar factor of the glazing alone. gtot is the solar
factor of the combination of a glazing and a solar protection
device.
The value of g or gtot is between 0 and 1: 0 means no
radiation is transmitted into the room and 1 means all
radiation is transmitted.
The g value of a glazing alone is determined by the
calculation method given in the EN 410.
There are two methods for the calculation of the gtot of a
solar protection device associated to a glazing:
Either a simplified method given by EN 13363-1,

Or a detailed method given in EN 13363-2.
Both methods use the properties of the glazing and of the material constituting the solar protection
device fabric, laths or slats as shown in II.5.
III.2.2. Simplified calculation method: EN 13363-1
The standard EN 13363-1 gives a simplified method to evaluate the gtot value. This calculation takes
into consideration the U value and the g value of the glazing and the energetic transmittance and
reflectance of the solar protection device.
The standard specifies that the deviation of the simplified calculation compared to the exact values lie
within the range between +0,10 and -0,02. It is therefore strongly recommended that the detailed
calculation method (see III.2.3) is used to determine the benefits of solar gain and thermal comfort.
Page 13
The advantage of this standard is that calculations can be made easily without a help of a calculation
tool.
Indeed the formulae to be used are the following:
For an external blind or shutter:

= +
+ (1 )
2
1
1
With G1 = 5 W/m.K ; G2 = 10 W/m.K and = + +
For an internal blind:
= 1
With G2 = 30 W/m.K and = +
For a mid-pane blind:
= + ( + (1 ) )
1
With G3 = 3 W/m.K and = +

In all these equations:
e is the solar transmittance of the blind or shutter

e is the solar reflectance of the blind or shutter
e is the solar absorptance of the blind or shutter
g is the solar factor of the glazing
Ug is the thermal transmittance of the glazing
G1, G2 and G3 are fixed values defined by the standard
with 1 = e + e + e (see II.5)
It should be noted that these formulae can be applied only if the solar transmittance and reflectance
of the solar protection devices are within the following ranges:
0 e 0,5 and 0,1 e 0,8
and with the additional requirement that the solar factor g of the glazing is between 0,15 and 0,85.
In all other cases, calculation according to EN 13363-2 should be carried out.
Page 14
III.2.3. Detailed calculation method: EN 13363-2

As this method tries to represent the real physical behaviour of the combination of a blind and a
glazing when it is struck by a radiation, this method of calculation is far more complex than the
formulae given by EN 13363-1. It requires the use of a specific calculation tool.
The principle of the calculation is to consider the blind, the glazing and the gas space as separate
layers in defined positions (see Figure 11), each layer having its own properties (transmittance,
reflectance, emissivity, etc.). The external conditions (temperature, solar irradiance, ventilation, ...) are
also considered. The goal of the calculation is to evaluate the interaction of each layer with these
conditions.
FIGURE 11 EXAMPLE OF LAYERS IN CASE OF AN EXTERNAL BLIND ASSOCIATED TO A DOUBLE GLAZING
Therefore, this calculation consists of three parts:
The solar radiation transfer

This part of the gtot is quantifying the part of the incident solar radiation which is transmitted
into the room through multiple transmission and reflection of both faces of each layer of the
system. The temperature of the system has no impact in this calculation.
Figure 12 gives an example of the calculation that has to be carried for a system made of an
external blind and a double glazing. In this example, the calculation leads to solve the
following matrix of flux:
E1 =
E2 = 1E3 + 1E4
E3 = 'eE2 + eE1
E4 = 2E5 + '2E6
E5 = '1E4 + 1E3
E6 = 0
Page 15
FIGURE 12 ILLUSTRATION OF THE SOLAR DIRECT TRANSMITTANCE FOR AN EXTERNAL BLIND AND A DOUBLE GLAZING
This transfer is characterised by the direct solar transmittance e of the system blind and
glazing. It relates to the complete solar spectrum.
The heat transfer

This type of transfer considers the impact of the external and internal temperature in
conjunction with the effect of the solar irradiance (that will increase the temperature of each
material by absorption).
This transfer is subdivided into two parts (see Figure 13):
Transfer by thermal radiation
This transfer is due to the emission of long wave infrared radiation (see II.4) by each
layer being warmed up by the external temperature and the solar radiation. The heat
is transmitted from one layer to the next one through this radiation.
This transfer is characterised by the thermal radiation factor gth.
Conductive and convective heat transfer
The conductive heat transfer is due to direct heat circulation within the material of the
layer and the gas space in-between by a direct molecular interaction. The convective
heat transfer is due to heat displacement from the material of the layer to the gas
space (e.g. the air space of a double glazing).
This transfer is characterised by the convection factor gc.
Page 16
FIGURE 13 ILLUSTRATION OF THE HEAT TRANSFER FOR AN EXTERNAL BLIND AND A DOUBLE GLAZING
The presence of a stack effect in case of an internal blind

This effect is due to the air displacement inside the air space created between the glazing and
the internal blind. It is due to the heating of the airspace by the glazing which generates an
upward heat flow between the glazing and the blind (see Figure 14).
This effect is characterised by the ventilation factor gv.
FIGURE 14 ILLUSTRATION OF THE STACK EFFECT IN CASE OF AN INTERNAL BLIND
The gtot value is then given by the addition of the solar direct transmittance e, the thermal radiation
factor gth, convection factor gc and the ventilation factor gv:
gtot = e + gth + gc + gv(1)
(1)
gv = 0 in the case of an external blind
Therefore EN 13363-2 gives a good description of the solar factor. However it requires the
consideration of different physical phenomena that have to be considered simultaneously. The use of a
specific calculation tool is therefore necessary.
Page 17
In this case the protection device

is retracted
In this case the external

protection device is extended
In this case the internal

protection device is extended
FIGURE 15 ILLUSTRATION OF GTOT
III.3. Light transmittance v

III.3.1. General
Light transmittance v represents the part of daylight which is transmitted into a room.
Like the solar factor, it is necessary to distinguish the visual
transmittance of a glazing alone and of a glazing used with a solar
protection device. Unfortunately, according to the European
standards, the notation used is the same (v in both cases). For
clarification, the notation v,tot is used in this guidebook to identify
the case of a solar protection device used with a glazing.
The value of v is between 0 and 1: 0 means no light is transmitted
into the room and 1 means all visible radiation is transmitted.
The reference v calculation standards are the same than for the
solar factor: EN 410 for a glazing alone and two possibilities for a
solar protection device associated to a glazing:
Either a simplified method given by EN 13363-1,

Or a detailed method given in EN 13363-2.
III.3.2. Simplified calculation method: EN 13363-1

The conditions of use of this standard are the same than for the calculation of the solar factor (see
III.2.2).
According to EN 13363-1, the formulae to be used for the calculation of v,tot are:
For an external blind or shutter:

, =
,
1 ,
Page 18
For an internal blind or shutter:

, =
Where:
,
1 ,
v is the visual transmittance of the glazing

v,blind is the visual transmittance of the blind or shutter
v is the visual reflectance of the side of the glazing facing the incident radiation
'v is the visual reflectance of the side of the glazing opposite to the incident radiation
v,blind is the visual reflectance of the side of the blind or shutter facing the incident radiation
'v,blind is the visual reflectance of the side of the blind or shutter opposite to the incident
radiation
III.3.3. Detailed calculation method: EN 13363-2

In the visual part of the spectrum, no heat transfer or ventilation factor has to be considered. Therefore
the calculation principle of the solar radiation transfer (see III.2.3) applies for radiation between 380
nm and 780 nm instead of the complete solar spectrum.
This calculation method considers the part of the radiation which is transmitted without any deviation
from the blind or the shutter, i.e. the direct visual transmittance v,n-n, and the part of the radiation
which is diffused in all directions after reflection by the blind or shutter, i.e. the diffuse visual
transmittance v,n-dif (see Figure 16).
The total visual transmittance is then made of the two parts:
v,tot = v,n-n + v,n-dif
FIGURE 16 ILLUSTRATION OF THE VISUAL TRANSMITTANCE OF AN INTERNAL BLIND
Page 19
III.4. Comparison of the simplified and detailed calculations

The simplified and detailed calculation methods can both be used to calculate the solar factor gtot and
the visual transmittance v,tot.
For the same combination of glazing and blind, a comparison can be made of the different colours of
the same fabric. Three configurations of colourways are shown in Table 5.
TABLE 5 PROPERTIES OF THE FABRIC
Colour of the fabric

White pearl
White grey
Grey
Solar transmittance e
0,13
0,09
0,05
Solar reflectance e (1)
0,53
0,44
0,21
Visual transmittance v
0,11
0,07
0,03
Diffuse visual transmittance v,n-dif
0,08
0,04
0,01
Visual reflectance v (1)
0,58
0,47
0,18
Long wave IR transmittance IR (2)
0,03
0,03
0,03
Emissivity (1)
0,89
0,89
0,89
(1) The
properties of both sides of the blind are identical. Therefore : e = 'e ; v = 'v and = '
(2) Equal
to the openness coefficient of the fabric
In EN 14501, typical glazing that are used as benchmarks have been defined to enable comparisons
to be made. The standard glazing C according to the standard (double glazing 4-16-4, with low
emissivity coating in position 3 (outer surface of the inner pane), space filled with argon) is considered
below (see Table 6).
TABLE 6 PROPERTIES OF THE GLAZING
External pane
Internal pane
Solar transmittance e
Solar reflectance on the side of the
incident radiation e
Solar reflectance on the side
opposite to the incident radiation 'e
0,85
0,58
0,08
0,30
0,08
0,24
Visual transmittance v
Visual reflectance on the side of the
incident radiation v
Visual reflectance on the side
opposite to the incident radiation 'v
0,90
0,82
0,08
0,08
0,08
0,04
Long wave IR transmittance IR

Emissivity on the side of the incident
radiation
Emissivity on the side opposite to the
incident radiation '
0,00
0,00
0,89
0,04
0,89
0,89
Page 20
The results for an external blind are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 CALCULATION OF GTOT AND V,TOT FOR AN EXTERNAL BLIND
Method of calculation
Simplified
Detailed (1)
gtot
v,tot
gtot
gth + gc
v,tot
v,n-diff
White Pearl
0,12
0,09
0,11
0,08
0,03
0,09
0,06
White grey
0,10
0,06
0,09
0,05
0,04
0,06
0,03
Grey
0,10
0,02
0,08
0,03
0,05
0,02
0,01
(1) calculations carried out with the software Win-Shelter developed by the Italian National agency for new
technologies, Energy and sustainable economic development and available at the following address : www.pit.enea.it
The results for an internal blind are shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8 CALCULATION OF GTOT AND V,TOT FOR AN INTERNAL BLIND
Method of calculation
Simplified
Detailed (2)
gtot
v,tot
gtot
gth + gc
gv
v,tot
v,n-diff
White Pearl
0,40
0,09
0,38
0,06
0,13
0,19
0,09
0,06
White grey
0,43
0,06
0,41
0,04
0,16
0,21
0,06
0,03
Grey
0,50
0,02
0,49
0,015
0,225
0,25
0,02
0,01
(2)
calculations carried out with the software Physalis developed by BBS Slama (12, rue Colbert BP 382 63010
Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1France ; +33 (0)4 73 34 96 60 ; contact@bbs-slama.com)
In all cases, for the gtot determination, the detailed calculation method gives better results than the
simplified one. It should be noticed on these examples that the difference in the results obtained is
higher for dark fabrics when the blind is external and for light coloured fabrics when the blind is
internal.
The greatest benefit of the detailed calculation method is to differentiate the part of the flux which is
transmitted as radiation or as heat.
However, these examples show that the simplified method gives the same results for visual
transmittance. This could allow easy and accurate calculation using this method. Even if the results are
not shown in these tables (as not considered in the standard EN 13363-1), it can be seen that a
calculation of the diffuse visual transmittance is also possible with the simplified calculation method.
Page 21
Shade Specifier Database

The British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), in conjunction with partners in the
European Solar Shading Organisation (ES-SO), have developed a database of
solar shading materials. This database includes independently validated energy
performance data of blind and shutter fabrics and materials to European
standards. The database calculates the energy performance of blind and shutter
products when used in combination with reference glazing defined in the
European Standards EN 13363-1 and EN 14501. All calculations are performed
in accordance with the relevant European standards and procedures that have
been covered in Chapter III.
The benefits of solar shading have been known for centuries. However,
comparison of specific and independently proven performance characteristics of
solar shading materials has not been possible, until now. Shade Specifier allows
the specifier and building owner to make an informed choice.
This process used by the Shade Specifier database is identical to that used by the
glazing industry and is a robust and effective way of ensuring the integrity of the
database.
Outputs include:
Total solar energy transmittance, gtot

Visible transmittance, Tvis
Thermal transmittance, U-value
Page 22
IV. HOW BLINDS AND SHUTTERS REDUCE THE ENERGY NEEDS OF A

BUILDING
Previous chapters show the characteristics of products and what could be the impact of the solar
shading when used in conjunction with a window or glazing system. This chapter presents the impact of
solar shading on the energy demand of a building. It refers to existing tools or studies.
IV.1. Textinergie tool

IV.1.1. What is Textinergie ?
Textinergie is a simple tool which quantifies potential energy savings in office buildings by using
fabric solar protection devices. It has been developed by the French association of blinds and shutters
manufacturers and installers (SNFPSA). It is accessible at the following address: www.textinergie.org.
Textinergie compares the energy needs within a room before and after being fitted with solar
protection devices.
The user selects:
The climatic zone,

The facade orientation,
The glazed surface of the room,
The type of double glazing (B, C or D as defined in EN 14501),
The position of the blind (internal or external),
The type of fabric,
The fabric colour.
Once the configuration has been defined, Textinergie gives two different levels of results:
Simplified results: percentage of energy saving associated with air-conditioning and other
installations (air-conditioning + heating + artificial lighting),
Detailed results: calculated temperature (C); needs (kWh) and percentage of energy saving
for each unit (air-conditioning, heating and lighting); daylight (lux).
The results are given for a glazing with or without blinds.

Calculations have been carried out using a dynamic simulation software for an entire year with a time
interval of five minutes. These simulations have been carried out and their results incorporated into a
database. The user selections draw directly from this database. It enables an estimate of the impact of
various parameters and helping the user in the choice of the optimal technical solution.
IV.1.2. Impact of the location
Figure 17 below shows the energy needs for heating, air-conditioning and lighting for a 20 m office
space in various European cities. The office space is equipped with clear double glazing (glazing C
according to EN 14501) and is south facing. The glazed surface represents 80% of the faade.
The blind is installed externally and its colour is dark neutral.
Page 23
Energy needs (kWh)
3500
3000
2500
- 23,0 %
2000
- 24,6 %
- 27,5 %
1500
- 32,4 %
1000
- 62,0 %
- 75,2 %
500
Artificial lighting
Air-conditioning
Heating
Stockholm
Berlin
London
Paris
Madrid
With blinds
Without blinds
With blinds
Without blinds
With blinds
Without blinds
With blinds
Without blinds
With blinds
Without blinds
With blinds
Without blinds
Rome
FIGURE 17 ENERGY NEEDS FROM TEXTINERGIE FOR VARIOUS EUROPEAN CITIES
The use of an external blind consistently leads to major energy savings in all cases.
It can be seen that heating needs are higher when the blind is installed. This is due to a lack of free
solar energy entering into the room when the blind is extended.
Indeed, the principle of operation of the blind is based on the visual comfort of the occupant: the blind
rolls down when the natural light on a sensor placed on a desk reaches 500 lux in summer and 900 lux
in winter. Therefore, the shading may be extended during sunny days in winter thereby limiting the
free heating of the room.
The principle of operation also assumes that artificial lighting is only activated when the solar
protection device is fully retracted and the daylight level is insufficient. Therefore, the presence of the
blind does not have any impact on the artificial light needs.
However, as the air-conditioning energy needs are significant, the total results are still very positive
and lead to major energy savings.
IV.1.3. Impact of the orientation
Figure 18 below presents the impact of the office orientation for three European countries: Stockholm,
Paris and Rome.
As expected, results are optimum for the east, west and south exposed faades. However, the
orientation for which the energy saving rate is maximised varies depending on the city: it is the east
faade for Stockholm (-28,1%), the west faade for Paris (-31%) and the south orientation for Rome (75,2%).
Although, results are lower, the use of blinds on the north-west exposed faade still results in energy
savings for the three cities.
Page 24
FIGURE 18 ENERGY NEEDS FROM TEXTINERGIE FOR VARIOUS ORIENTATION IN THREE EUROPEAN CITIES
IV.2. ES-SO and REHVA guidebook

In 2010, ES-SO and REHVA (Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning
Associations) have jointly published a guidebook on solar shading 1. This guidebook contains reference
to energy demand calculations carried out on a model office in three European cities (only two are
presented here). The software EnergyPlus has been used for the calculations. The details of the
parameters used for the calculations are available in the ES-SO & REHVA guidebook. A summary of
the results of these calculations is given in the next clauses.
IV.2.1. Stockholm
Figure 19 shows the annual energy demand for different orientations for the model office in
Stockholm.
Solar Shading, how to integrate solar shading in sustainable buildings

Page 25
1
200
200
150
150
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
Clear double glazing
100
50
0
north
100
50
east
south
0
north
west
200
200
150
150
100
50
0
north
50
east
south
0
north
west
east
south
west
With external blinds
200
200
150
150
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
Solar control glazing
west
100
Without blinds
100
100
50
50
0
north
south
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
Low emissivity double

glazing
Without blinds
east
east
south
Without blinds
west
0
north
east
south
west
The red line represents the heat supplied to the room by the heating system, the blue line the heat removed
from the room by the HVAC system. The yellow line represents the electric energy needed for lighting. The
green line represents the total primary energy for heating cooling and lighting (see the ES-SO / REHVA
guidebook for the detailed calculation method)
FIGURE 19 ANNUAL ENERGY BALANCE FOR THE MODEL OFFICE IN STOCKHOLM (SOURCE ES-SO & REHVA GUIDEBOOK)
The energy demand is clearly dominated by heating. On south orientations the heating energy is
significantly lower for all glazing types than for north orientations, due to passive solar heating in
winter. In summer, there is considerable solar heat gain on south orientations, resulting in a significant
energy demand for cooling. This effect is clearly stronger for glazing with higher g-values.
The situation becomes markedly different when external solar shading is installed, as shown in the right
column of Figure 19. The annual energy demand for cooling is significantly reduced by over 70% on
south orientations. Solar shading results in slight increases in the energy demand for heating and
lighting. This is due to the fact that the shading intercepts solar energy that would have contributed to
day-lighting and passive solar heating. It can be seen that the primary energy demand in absolute
terms is the lowest for the low emissivity glazing combined with solar shading.
Page 26
Figure 20 shows the cooling load as a function of window orientation for three different glazing types.
Solid lines represent the situation without shading, the dotted lines represent cooling loads with solar
shading. Red represents double glazing, orange low-e glazing and blue solar control glazing.
200
W/m
150
100
50
0
north
east
south
west
FIGURE 20 - COOLING LOAD AS A FUNCTION OF THE FAADE ORIENTATION (SOURCE ES-SO & REHVA GUIDEBOOK)
IV.2.2. Madrid
Figure 21shows the energy demand as a function of the orientation of the office in Madrid. In this
case, the energy demand is clearly dominated by cooling. On south orientations, heating is almost
negligible, due to passive solar heating in winter. In summer, there is a considerable solar heat gain on
south orientations, resulting in a significant energy demand for cooling.
Solar shading substantially reduces the primary energy demand for other than-north orientations. In
this case the lowest primary energy requirement is attained with a combination of solar control glazing
and exterior solar shading.
Combining solar control glazing with solar shading is a somewhat unusual choice. Normally, solar
control glazing is viewed as an alternative to exterior shading. In this case, the primary energy
demand for an office fitted with solar control glazing and solar shading is about 30% lower than for
the same office fitted with solar control glazing only.
Page 27
200
200
150
150
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
Clear double glazing
100
50
0
north
100
50
east
south
0
north
west
200
200
150
150
100
50
50
0
north
east
south
0
north
west
200
200
150
150
100
south
west
100
50
50
0
north
east
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
west
100
Without blinds
Solar control glazing
south
kWh/ma
kWh/ma
Low emissivity double

glazing
Without blinds
east
east
south
Without blinds
west
0
north
east
south
west
The red line represents the heat supplied to the room by the heating system, the blue line the heat removed
from the room by the HVAC system. The yellow line represents the electric energy needed for lighting. The
green line represents the total primary energy for heating cooling and lighting (see the ES-SO / REHVA
guidebook for the detailed calculation method)
FIGURE 21 ANNUAL ENERGY BALANCE FOR THE MODEL OFFICE IN MADRID (SOURCE ES-SO & REHVA GUIDEBOOK)
Page 28
V. HOW BLINDS AND SHUTTERS IMPROVE THE VISUAL AND THERMAL

COMFORT OF A BUILDING
The previous chapter presented the impact of solar shading on the energy demand of cooled office
premises. But these products also play a major role in the internal thermal and visual comfort of the
occupants. This chapter presents results of studies concerning this important consideration in building
design.
V.1. Impact of shutters on summer comfor t

In 2010, a study has been carried by the Engineering Office TBC for the French Association of Blinds
and Shutters Manufacturers (SNFPSA).
According to the results of thermal simulations carried out with the calculation software
Comfie+Pleade 2 in a typical dwelling for three locations in France, the use of roller shutters in warm
conditions reduces the maximum temperature by up to 6C.
Figure 22 shows the maximum temperature achieved in the dwelling for different operating modes of
roller shutters:
A clock mode: roller shutters are extended from 8h to 18h,
An external temperature mode: roller shutters are 50% extended if the outdoor temperature is
over 23C and completely extended if the outdoor temperature is over 26C,
An light level mode: roller shutters are fully extended if the incident luminance is above 10
000 Lux.
41
39
T (C)
37
35
Paris
33
La Rochelle
Nice
31
29
27
Shutters opened
all day
Clock mode
External
temperature
mode
Illuminance mode
FIGURE 22 MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES OF ROLLER SHUTTERS (SOURCE TBC AND SNFPSA)
Pleiades + Comfie used the calculation system Comfie developed by the Energetic Centre of the Engineering School
Mines ParisTech.
Page 29
2
Detailed results are shown in the Table 9 below.

TABLE 9 MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES OF ROLLER SHUTTERS
Paris
La Rochelle
Nice
Shutters opened all day
34,46C
36,26C
38,89C
Clock mode
-3,41C
-3,04C
-5,13C
External temperature mode
-3,31C
-3,10C
-1,78C
Light level mode
-5,05C
-3,23C
-6,37C
The use of roller shutters during warm days reduces the maximum temperature in all cases.
The light level operating mode gives the best compromise as it is the most efficient in terms of
limitation of overheating but also as it allows the occupants to benefit from daylight when the incident
luminance is lower than 10 000 Lux or when the faade is not exposed.
The period of discomfort is defined as the time where the internal temperature is either under 16C or
over 27C. It is then possible to define a rate of discomfort defined as the ratio of the number of
hours where the house is occupied and the temperature is either under 16C or over 27C and the
total number of hours of occupancy.
Table 10 presents the results of the calculation of the rate of discomfort for three locations and
operating modes considered. In practice, it should be noted that as the heating is activated at 19C,
these values only consider the period when the temperature is over 27C.
TABLE 10 RATE OF DISCOMFORT FOR DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES OF ROLLER SHUTTERS
Paris
La Rochelle
Nice
19,6 %
23,6 %
39,1 %
Clock mode
4,1 % (- 15,5 %)
6,9 % (- 16,7 %)
30,4 % (- 8,7 %)
External temperature mode
14,9 % (- 4,7 %)
18,1 % (- 5,5 %)
39,0 % (- 0,1 %)
Light level mode
4,3 % (-15,3 %)
5,8 % (- 17,8 %)
27,6 % (- 11,5 %)
Shutters opened all day
The light level mode is the best option to reduce the rate of discomfort (between 11% and 18%
depending on the climatic area). The clock mode provides similar results but again, would not consider
the daylight level available that could be seen as uncomfortable for the occupants.
The external temperature mode is the least effective, especially in the Nice area where there is no
benefit. It should be noticed that the Nice area is the warmest in France and that additional provisions
(such as the thermal inertia of the building) should be taken to achieve a reasonable level of comfort.
V.2. Impact of solar shading on visual comfor t

As it relies on a personal perception, visual comfort varies from one person to another. It is a subjective
issue. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that daylight is usually preferred to artificial lighting as the
primary source of light.
However, situations causing visual discomfort can easily arise in a naturally-lit office. Occasionally, the
light may be too bright or the contrasts too great. To fully harvest the benefits of daylight, it needs to
be controlled.
Page 30
Glare is usually caused by direct sunlight falling on objects in the office or high exterior luminance
values within the field of view. Glare can also occur when using a computer display: the luminance of
the reflection of the surroundings may be higher than the luminance of the computer screen.
Figure 23 presents the luminance level in an office when the solar shading is extended or retracted. It
shows that solar shading significantly reduces the luminance ratios avoiding an important difference of
luminance between the computer screen and the surroundings that would create a visual discomfort.
Without solar shading
With solar shading
FIGURE 23 LUMINANCE LEVEL WITH AND WITHOUT SOLAR SHADING IN AN OFFICE (PHOTOS SOMFY)
The ES-SO and REHVA guidebook published in 2010 (see IV.2) presents a summary of scientific
research showing the influence of the use of daylight on factors related to worker and student
productivity:
By maximizing the use of daylight without glare and providing daylight responsive lighting
controls, a median productivity benefit of 3,75% was found by Carnegie Mellon University.
[CMU 2004]
On average, major health complaints are between 20% and 25% lower for occupants close to
an exterior window, compared to those that work in the interior core without access to view and
daylight. [Hart 1999, Hart 1994]
Access to windows and daylight resulted in a 15% reduction of absenteeism. [Thay 1995]
Direct sun penetration into classrooms, especially through unshaded east or south facing
windows, is associated with negative student performance. [Hesh 2003b]
Students with adequate natural daylight in their classrooms showed 20% faster progress in
maths tests and 26% in reading tests during one year. [Hesh 1999]
From the above it may be concluded that natural daylight has a significant and positive influence on
occupant health, wellbeing and productivity. However, adaptive control of daylight is needed to
guarantee the conditions of good visual comfort at all times.
Page 31
Page 32
Bibliography
(1)
European Standards
EN 14501 Blinds and shutters - Thermal and visual comfort - Performance characteristics and
classification
EN 14500 Blinds and shutters - Thermal and visual comfort - Test and calculation methods
EN 13125 Shutters and blinds - Additional thermal resistance - Allocation of a class of air
permeability to a product
EN 13363-1 Solar protection devices combined with glazing - Calculation of solar and light
transmittance - Simplified method
EN 13363-2 Solar protection devices combined with glazing - Calculation of total solar energy
transmittance and light transmittance - Detailed calculation method
EN ISO 10077-1 Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters - Calculation of thermal
transmittance - General
EN 410 Glass in building - Determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing
(2)
Guidebooks
Guide de la Fermeture et de la Protection Solaire , 2010, co-edited by SEBPTP and MetalServices
Solar Shading, how to integrate solar shading in sustainable buildings, 2010, edited by REHVA, 40
rue de Washington, 1050 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM; info@rehva.eu
(3)
Research
Cration d'un outil d'aide au choix optimis du vitrage du btiment selon des critres physiques,
cologiques et conomiques, pour un meilleur confort visuel et thermique, Magali Bodart, UCL, Avril
2002.
Analyse de lapport nergtique du volet roulant, TBC & SNFPSA, Mars 2010
[CMU 2004] Guidelines for High Performance Buildings 2004
http://cbpd.arc.cmu.edu/ebids/images/group/cases/Daylighting.pdf
[Hart 1994] Hartkopf, V., V. Loftness, S. Duckworth, S. Lee, P. Drake, J. Posner, and G. Rainer. The
Intelligent Workplace Retrofit initiative: DOE Building Studies. Produced under contract for the U.S.
Department of Energy, December 1994.
[Hart 1999] Hartkopf, V., Loftness, V. Global relevance of total building performance, Automation in
Construction 8, (1999) pp. 377-393.
[Hesh 1999] Heschong, Mahone, Daylighting in Schools: An investigation into the relationship between
daylighting and human performance, 1999.
[Hesh 2003b] Heschong, L., Windows and Classrooms: A Study of Student Performance and the Indoor
Environment. Report prepared for the California Energy Commission, 2003.
[Thay 1995] Thayer, Burke Miller, Daylighting & Productivity at Lockheed, Solar Today, Vol.9, 1995.
(4)
Informative links
ES-SO web site: www.es-so.com
Textinergie tool: www.textinergie.org
Win-Shelter software : www.pit.enea.it
Page 33
Page 34
he Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and in particular its stringent 2010 Recast
version, requires that, from 2020 onward, all new buildings in Europe shall be nearly zeroenergy. This goal is achievable only through the optimisation of the building envelope.
Within the building envelope, the glazed part plays a key role as it allows light and heat to enter into
the building. However, light and heat levels vary throughout the year. They need to be controlled firstly
to reach the goal of nearly zero-energy and, secondly, to ensure the comfort of the buildings
occupants. Solar shading which covers a huge variety of products and controls is designed to
answer these needs as it adapts the glazed envelope properties to the weather conditions and the
human needs.
That is why solar shading cannot be considered as a secondary equipment of the glazed envelope but
should be integrated in the building design at the very first stage of the projects development. In this
way, the performance impact of the building development can be assessed and the heating and
cooling equipment specified accordingly. The visual and thermal comfort of the occupants can also be
determined well in advance avoiding possible modifications of the building faade or the internal
environment after commissioning.
This guide book is intended to give the technical information needed to evaluate the performance of
solar shading. It contains the basic principles required to understand the physical properties involved in
the radiation transmission. It then highlights the standardised calculation methods that are used to
evaluate the thermal and visual characteristics of blinds and shutters. Finally, from technical studies and
research, it provides an overview of the impact of solar shading on the energy consumption of
buildings and the occupants comfort.
Although it is intended to be used by solar shading manufacturers and installers, this guidebook will be
of interest to building designers and energy engineers.
ES-SO vzw
Naessenslaan 9
B-1860 Meise, Belgium
Email: info@es-so.com

Solar Shading For Low Energy Buildings

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MEMBERS OF THE ES-SO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Chairman : Herv LAMY (SNFPSA)

Ralf BAUR (ITRS)

Copyright ES-SO, 2012

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Solar shading for low energy buildings

II. BASIC PRINCIPLES....................................................................................................6

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Solar shading for low energy buildings

II.1. Different types of radiation

FIGURE 1 CLASSIFICATION OF VARIOUS ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION DEPENDING OF THEIR WAVELENGTH

A solar protection device is concerned with these two types of radiation:

II.2. Solar radiation

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Direct radiation, which is the solar

FIGURE 3 SPECTRAL IRRADIANCE AT THE SEA LEVEL FOR THE SOLAR

II.3. Influence of the position of the sun

FIGURE 4 POSITION OF THE SUN IN THE SKY

Solar shading for low energy buildings

It can be seen that:

II.4. The long wave infrared

Solar shading for low energy buildings

II.5. How a material is affected by radiation

A part which is transmitted through the

FIGURE 6 BEHAVIOUR OF A RADIATION IN CONTACT WITH A

In this case, they are called integrated data.

Solar shading for low energy buildings

In addition, it should be noted that a radiation is

Direct transmittance, stated as n-n, for which

FIGURE 7 DIRECT AND DIFFUSE VISUAL TRANSMITTANCE

FIGURE 8 ILLUSTRATION OF THE MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS

Solar shading for low energy buildings

III. THE THERMAL AND VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLINDS AND

III.1. Thermal transmittance (U value)

The lower the Uw value the better the insulation of the

FIGURE 9 ILLUSTRATION OF THE UW VALUE

FIGURE 10 CALCULATION OF ETOT ACCORDING TO EN 13125

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Very high air permeability (etot > 35 mm)

High air permeability (15 mm < etot 35 mm)

Average air permeability (8 mm < etot 15 mm)

Low air permeability (etot 8 mm)

Very low air permeability (etot 3 mm and e1+ e3=0 or e2+

TABLE 2 - CALCULATION OF R OF EXTERNAL BLINDS

High and very high air permeability (Pe 35 mm)

Average air permeability (8 mm Pe < 35 mm)

Low air permeability (Pe < 8 mm)

TABLE 3 - CALCULATION OF R OF INTERNAL AND MID-PANE BLINDS

High and very high air permeability (Pe 80 mm)

Average air permeability (20 mm Pe < 80 mm)

Low air permeability (Pe < 20 mm)

0,08 m.K/W, for example a very permeable external blind,

Solar shading for low energy buildings

Window with single glazing

Window with double glazing

Window with double glazing

III.2. Total solar energy transmittance g t o t (solar factor)

Either a simplified method given by EN 13363-1,

Solar shading for low energy buildings

For an external blind or shutter: